[SatNews] “We have to complete many actions from our vessels while they are operational, such as critical project updates, 24-hour purchase requisitions back to shore, and live underwater video streaming.”

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) announces that Technip, provider of project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry, has awarded a new contract that will service a substantial portion of its global fleet in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia with critical, high-availability broadband communications.

One of the most advanced pipelay and construction vessels in the subsea industry, and the flagship of the Technip fleet, Deep Blue will benefit from enhanced communications and content services from MTN.

MTN’s services for oil and gas market leaders such as Technip include Internet, crew calling, and Infotainment solutions for subsea, onshore, and offshore locations—solutions that aim to improve connectivity for companies on a personal and professional level. MTN’s OceanCast provides live video streaming while its OceanPhone and onboard Wi-Fi provides continuous communication between headquarters, crews and their families. MTN also utilizes MyCounter, a convenient tool for clients to monitor their minute or megabyte usage.

High Definition (HD) streams from OceanCast can be customized to reach public audiences or private audiences via custom registration options. Crew can also keep in touch ship-to-ship and/or ship-to-shore with their own smartphones and tablets using OceanPhone Mobile, which uses Wi-Fi and includes free text messaging with any plan. The Internet solution, which gives access to news, email, social networking, video, and chat, offers a customized front-end interface.

Given the increasing demand on Technip’s IT communications systems, extending the onboard bandwidth and networks is vital, says Technip UK’s IT Director Stuart Millar. “We have to complete many actions from our vessels while they are operational, such as critical project updates, 24-hour purchase requisitions back to shore, and live underwater video streaming,” said Millar. “The MTN solution enables us to conduct our business activities while at sea, no matter the location around the world. MTN has figured new optimization technologies into the equation so we can accomplish this.

“In addition, MTN offers network management tools which help us design communications configurations for each project, yet are flexible so we can make changes when schedules shift or network demands vary. A comprehensive dashboard of real-time and historical information is available to support better decision-making. This allows our focus to remain on execution of our subsea projects,” says Millar.

Technip has access to live event streaming from vessels if clients need to view progress on a project or if headquarters needs visibility of an emergency situation. For work/life balance, the Group utilizes MTN satellite services to provide online connectivity—traditional voice, Internet and video services such as live global TV service—in accommodation cabins, as well as common areas.

MTN has delivered communications to Technip for the past 10 years, a relationship that started after Technip reached out to MTN after a hurricane knocked out its communications services. MTN was able to quickly deliver higher levels of redundancy, satellite connectivity and ground-based network services. From there MTN and Technip have expanded the service from basic voice telephony to a full-scale multimedia portfolio that mirrors the organization’s land-based enterprise.

This enhanced contract more than doubles the number of Technip vessels MTN is serving. Due to the data-intensive nature of its business, Technip is expanding its relationship with MTN, which provides services that are ideal for supporting the extended time periods Technip vessels are at sea. MTN owns and operates a fully redundant global network providing unmatched communications and content services. MTN’s reliability, innovation and responsiveness were key to expanding the partnership.

“Our success with Technip is very important and is a reflection of our focus and ability to deliver highly-reliable broadband communications to the energy segment,” said MTN’s Executive Vice President of Commercial Business Development Chris Leber. “We have worked hard to understand and respond to Technip’s operational and crew connectivity requirements in the challenging environment of subsea operations. We collaborate regularly to quickly deliver additions or changes to their network, allowing them to focus on their core business,” said Leber.

MTN delivers global VSAT satellite capacity and solutions via C-, Ku- and X-bands and plans to utilize High Throughput Multi-Spot (HTMS™) beam capabilities in 2015. Their HTMS network will be backward compatible with traditional satellite networks in order to meet voice, video, and data requirements.

MTN is a provider of communications and content services for remote locations around the world. The company serves the following segments; Cruise, Yachts, Oil and Gas, Commercial Shipping and Government. Since launching the first stabilized satellite antenna for broadband service to ships in the 1980s, MTN has pioneered remote connectivity technologies. please visit.